It's a great story. But like the I-Loo Microsoft hoax (which thesoftware giant's own PR company perpetuated and assured journalistswas true), the claim that an Oregon mental health centre was lookingfor a Klingon-speaking interpreter for its patients was false.

On Monday, the Associated Press)said the clinic's research had found that the Star Trek language,which has its own grammar and syntax, might be needed. "There aresome cases where we've had mental health patients where this was allthey would speak," said the county's purchasing administrator, FrannaHathaway. That would have obliged them to employ an interpreter.

But the ( following day),the mental health centre said no Klingon speakers had ever turned upasking for treatment. "It was a mistake, and a result of anoverzealous attempt to ensure that our safety net systems can respondto all customers and clients," Multnomah County chair Diane Linn said.